Abstract
Initially founded in 1955 as a platform for Dutch photojournalists to increase international exposure, the World Press Photo competition has grown into the most prestigious contest of photojournalism worldwide, making it an important arena for journalism research. Using qualitative and quantitative content analyses, this study examines all photos shown in the competitions from 1960 to 2020 (N = 11,789) considering the origin of jury members (N = 686), participants (N = 132,800), placements (N = 2347) and the Human Development Index (HDI) of the countries. The topics displayed on the photos, their degree of negativity, and potential power structures in the photos are analysed over time both in terms of continental and HDI-related differences. Significant results show that Africa, Asia, and South America are more frequently depicted by the topic conflict and characterised by negative images than continents with industrialised nations (Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America). Participating European countries have a significantly higher average number of jury members, participants, and placements than participating countries from Africa, Asia, and South America, which seems to account for a dominant Eurocentric view. Implications and critical discussions are summarized in three interim conclusions at the end of this extended paper.
Highlights
In 2021, the world of press photography experienced a small revolution
The topic of conflict is more frequently depicted in recordings from Africa, Asia and South America than in recordings from Australia/Oceania, Europe, or North America
Sports footage was found to be significantly more likely to come from Australia/Oceania, Europe, and North America than from Africa, Asia, or South America
Summary
In 2021, the world of press photography experienced a small revolution. Announced on April 15, the World Press Photo of the Year featured overtly happy people for the first time in the history of the prestigious competition. 85-year-old Rosa Luzia Lunardi is being embraced intimately by nurse Adriana Silva da Costa Souza. The moment was captured by the Danish photojournalist Mads Nissen during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. He sums up his photo, titled “The First Embrace”, as follows: “To me, this is a story about hope and love in the most difficult times” (World Press Photo 2021a). If you look at the image long enough, you’ll see wings: a symbol of flight and hope” (World Press Photo 2021a)
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